R8 to get a new face, and DSG??

From autoblog; “It may be hard to believe, but the Audi R8 has already been on the market for five years. And while it was cutting edge then and is still eminently fresh and desirable by any account, sooner or later it’s going to need a bit of a touch-up up to keep ahead of the competition. And this could be our first look at what to expect.

Apparently leaked out together with some other photos, this solitary shot is believed to be a design mock-up of the front-end of the next R8. The nose features Audi’s latest hexagonal grille shape and a very sharp-looking set of all-LED headlamps that (with apologies to Bryan Adams fans) cut like a knife across the car’s face.

Mechanically, the new R8 is likely to carry over the existing choice of V8 or V10 engines with Quattro all-wheel drive, although prototypes have reportedly been seen with 2.5 and 3.0-liter TFSI engines driving the rear wheels only. What is understood is that the much-derided R-tronic transmission will finally be replaced with a better dual-clutch gearbox.”

Bugatti’s $1.4 Million, 800-hp Sedan A Hybrid?!

From yahooautos; “Given the superlative nature and awesome speed of Bugatti’s already legendary, 250-plus mph Veyron supercar, interest in the manufacturer’s follow-up is intense. The company had previously gone on record as saying that its next model wouldn’t be a supercar, but details were scant — until now. In a recent article from the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer confirms that the new car will be in the vein of the controversial 16 C Galibier concept, which debuted in 2009. It will seat four and have a generous trunk, Dürheimer says; you can bet that a set of fitted luggage will be one of the pricey options.

More important is what’s fitted up front, of course, which the article claims will be a 16-cylinder engine, although power output wasn’t mentioned. (The W-16 under the Galibier’s butterfly bonnet delivers a mere 800 hp, somewhat less than the 1,001 churned up by the 8-liter W-16 in the mid-engine Veyron.) The Galibier concept is big, though, so don’t expect Veyron-esque, sub-three-second zero-to-60-mph sprints no matter how much carbon fiber and aluminum the new car contains. Interestingly, a hybrid model (presumably a plug-in hybrid) is on the docket as well, with an electric-only driving range of about 25 miles, according to Dürheimer.

Bugatti hopes to sell between 1,000 and 1,500 units of the super-luxe sedan over the course of its lifetime, roughly triple the number of Veyron coupes and Grand Sport convertibles Bugatti built since 2004. The story also says that the Galibier will go on sale in the fall of 2012, about a year earlier than most earlier projections. How much will it cost? Dürheimer says it will command at least €1M, which amounts to about $1.42 million at today’s exchange rates.”

VW Race Touareg for the road; also Touareg Gold Edition

From autocar.com; “This street-legal concept version of Volkswagen’s Dakar Rally Touareg could make it into limited production, company officials have revealed to Autocar at the Qatar motor show.

The Race Touareg 3 Qatar show car is only lightly modified from the Race Touareg 3 rally car that won the Dakar Rally earlier this month. Power for what VW calls “the world’s most talented street-legal SUV” comes from a modified 306bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel version of the engine used in the Dakar rally.

The most obvious change to the two-metre wide SUV is the 18-inch BBS alloys with road tyres instead of the Dakar car’s 16s. It is finished in ‘Magic Morning’ white with gold trim and sports many of the Dakar car’s most striking features, including its large roof air intake, jacked-up ride height and large fixed spoiler.

It uses the same chassis and bodywork as the Dakar car, which is homologated for road use allowing for a production run of road cars when VW gives the project the go-ahead. The bodywork is made from carbon composites and has been given a smooth finish to giv it the impression it has been painted.

The real changes occur in the aircraft-inspired ‘Stealth look’ interior; the only thing remaining unmodified inside is the safety cage. It is equipped with Recaro bucket seats and engraved aluminium on the centre console to commemorate the Race Touareg’s Dakar victories. The leather-upholstered interior also features Matt Carbon trim.

The Race Touareg 3 Qatar road car is a proper design project that has included the storing of all the tooling data for the interior’s carbon door skins, centre console and dash structure. VW would make aluminium tools for the interior should the project be given the go-ahead.

The Race Touareg 3 Qatar is not the only SUV concept Volkswagen has brought today to Doha.”

Touareg Gold Edition
“The Touareg Gold Edition is a design study where many of its parts have been upgraded with 24-carat gold. Gold is used for the custom designed 22-inch alloys, roof rails, protective guard strips, window frames, mirror caps, parts of the air intake frame and boot sill trim. It is painted in the same Magic Morning colour as the Dakar road car concept.

The interior also gets lashings of 24-carat gold, where it used for many of the switches and accents. The interior features a ‘Luna’ trim colour, which is used for the leather seats and Alcantara headlining. The dashboard is trimmed in natural brown leather.”

More pics here;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/concept-cars/vw-race-touareg-for-the-road/255154/pictures/vw-race-touareg-for-the-road.aspx

Bentley confirms uber-luxe SUV in development

Courtesy of autoblog.com; “Some rumors round the mill once or twice and either come to fruition or eventually die off. But some just keep on going round and round like a soul in limbo, never reaching production and never dying, either.

One of the most prominent examples is the rumors of a Bentley SUV. Given that (A) luxury sport-utes are seemingly forever rising in popularity with no end in sight, (B) that Bentley’s existing Continental range already packs torque-tastic engines and all-wheel drive, and that (C) its corporate cousins Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche are already in the game (not to mention Lamborghini, which once was and might yet once again), the rumors make sense, but have just never seemed to get there. At least, not beyond the Dominator (pictured above), built in a limited run in the mid-90s for the Sultan of Brunei.

This time, however, a report from Germany’s well-regarded Auto Motor Und Sport claims to have received confirmation directly from Bentley’s Chief Executive saying that the project is a go. And Wolfgang Dürheimer should know: the former Porsche executive was one of the driving forces behind the launch of the Cayenne, with which Bentley’s new SUV would compete directly, along with the Range Rover and rumored upcoming SUVs from Maybach and Lagonda based on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

No word just yet on a timeline for completion, but the sport-ute would reportedly slot in between the Continental and Mulsanne, giving it a price tag in the neighborhood of $230,000.”

How’s that for a fancy Touareg? 🙂

503bhp audi a1 club sport; wowzers

“Audi will be presenting its A1 Clubsport Quattro showcar at the Wörthersee taking place from June 1-4, 2011. The Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro is a one-off vehicle built to the limits of technology for breathtaking dynamics. The heart of the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro is a classic Audi gasoline engine – a five-cylinder unit displacing 2.5 liters with turbocharging and direct fuel injection. Compared with the version used in the Audi TT RS and RS 3 Sportback on which it is based, the output of the TFSI has been increased dramatically to 370 kW (503 hp) and 660 Nm (486.79 lb-ft) of torque. Maximum power is available between 2500 and 5300 rpm. Another area where the A1 Clubsport Quattro shines is its overall weight of just 1,390 kilograms (3,064 lb). The powerful engine catapults the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.7 seconds. From 0 to 200 km/h (124.27 mph) takes just 10.9 seconds, while the car goes from 80 to 120 km/h (49.71 to 74.56 mph) in fourth gear in just 2.4 seconds.

A six-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive, both taken from the TT RS and enhanced, deliver the power to all four wheels. Top speed is governed at 250 km/h (155.34 mph).

The Audi showcar rolls on 255/30 low-profile tires mounted on 19-inch alloy wheels with a unique turbine design. Sitting behind the wheels are large, internally ventilated disc brakes. Up front, six-piston calipers grab perforated carbon fiber-ceramic discs. Large steel discs are mounted on the rear axle. The coilover suspension of the A1 clubsport quattro features adjustable compression and rebound damping.

Dynamic and brawny: the exterior
Sporting a very dynamic appearance and an exquisite finish, the showcar makes no secret of its potential. The body has a Glacier White matt paint finish, with accents provided by many add-on parts. The roof arch in high-gloss black supports a roof made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and the four rings at the front of the car are solid aluminum.

Large, split air intakes with carbon struts are integrated into the distinctively modified front skirt. The single-frame radiator grille sports a black honeycomb design, and the headlights feature matted clasps with a red “wing.” Heat from the engine compartment is dissipated via two large air outlets in the hood.

The front fenders, the doors and the rear side panels of the Audi A1 clubsport quattro have been widened by a total of 60 millimeters (2.36 in). They form horizontal “blister” edges, like those found on the Audi Ur-quattro. Air outlets are integrated into the rear ends of the fenders, and the newly designed trim strips on the sills are made of exposed CFRP. Sleek side mirrors are reminiscent of the Audi R8 high-performance sports car.

The rear of the showcar is dominated by the roof spoiler, which features a double wing to provide for sufficient downforce. Darkly toned rear lights and a large, closed diffuser hone the rear view of the A1 clubsport quattro.

Designed as a road vehicle for the race track, the showcar has no rear seat. In its place are a large crossbar to further stiffen the body and storage for racing helmets. A weight-optimized starter battery used in racing is mounted in the rear below the two storage compartments. The strict high-performance concept left no room for an infotainment system, an MMI monitor or even a loudspeaker. The lightweight bucket seats are taken from the Audi R8 GT and feature a chassis made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. Red four-point belts secure the driver and passenger.

The interior of the showcar is a study in dark gray. Large areas are covered with exposed, matt-finished CFRP, including the walls in the rear section of the car, the tubes of the air vents and the “stern of the yacht” in the lower section of the center console. The CFRP material used on the open-spoked sport steering wheel is covered with leather. Rocker switches on the center console replace switches on the control stalk and in the door panels. Three additional instruments indicate the oil pressure, boost pressure and electrical system voltage.

The center console and the seats are covered in fine leather upholstery with tone-on-tone stitching. The selector lever is made of aluminum; the caps of the pedals and the surface of the footrest are made of stainless steel. Red loops replace the handles on the doors, the glove box and the covers of the storage compartments.

Experience the Audi A1 clubsport quattro interactively
The Audi A1 clubsport quattro can also be experienced exclusively in Need for Speed ​​World (http://world.needforspeed.com), where it will be available to all players as a free in-game rental car from June 1 – 4. Need for Speed ​World is the Play4Free online PC racing game from EA, in which players take part in races in a giant multiplayer world.

The Audi stand at Wörthersee
Joining the A1 clubsport quattro on the Audi stand at the GTI meet are 17 production vehicles from the current Audi model lineup. Among the vehicles that the brand is presenting to its fans at the Wörthersee is the new Audi Q3. The public can also take a close look at the Audi TT RS in Ibis White and an RS 3 Sportback in Misano Red. Another model is the new Audi A6, which is on display next to an A7 Sportback in Misano Red.

Fans and guests making the trip to the Wörthersee from June 1 – 4 have the opportunity to present their tuned Audi in a worthy manner by driving it past the Audi stage at the company’s Wörthersee stand.

New accessories for production models
Many of the features of the Audi A1 clubsport quattro will soon show up in the accessories program for the A1 family, which Audi is steadily expanding. Adhesive film decals in the contrasting colors Amalfi White, Ice Silver, metallic and Daytona Gray, pearl effect for the vehicles’ shoulders are available immediately.

Another option is the union square lifestyle kit. It comprises exterior decals and design elements for the interior, both with a diamond pattern. Audi is presenting both this and the A1 aerodynamics competition kit at the Wörtherseetour. The customer can order this add-on kit painted either in the body color or in a contrasting color. The same applies to the Audi A1 roof spoiler competition kit.”

More pics here; http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-a1-clubsport-quattro-concept#4176437

Watch the making of the A1 Club Sport here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmOqPz4wlGA&feature=player_embedded

Sound clip here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ha7Z8dGjEiQ

VW reveals plug-in diesel hybrid concept, claims 261 mpg

From Autoweek.com;

“Volkswagen has used a car show in the Middle East nation of Qatar to unveil a two-seat plug-in hybrid concept car that the automaker says will deliver 261 mpg.

The VW XL1 uses a lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor and a two-cylinder, 0.8-liter diesel engine for the powertrain.

We’re still digesting the press release, but here are some highlights:

— VW says the XL1 can travel about 22 miles on electricity from the battery pack. The battery gains some charge from regenerative braking but is mainly recharged from a wall outlet.

— The two-cylinder diesel engine is rated at 47 hp. The electric motor is rated at 26 hp. Torque flows through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The powertrain is mounted behind the seats.

— Extensive use of carbon fiber in the body keeps the curb weight low at 1,753 pounds.

— VW says the XL1 can run from 0 to 62 mph in 11.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 99 mph. With a 2.6-gallon fuel tank, VW says the concept has a driving range of 341 miles.

— The XL1 has a wheelbase of 87.6 inches. It’s overall length is 153.1 inches, which is seven inches shorter than a Honda CR-Z. The XL1 stands 45.5 inches tall and is 65.6 inches wide.”

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110125/CARNEWS/110129931

Mercedes downsizes S-Class to race BMW, Audi in “Green Luxury”

From Bloomberg News;

“Mercedes Downsizes S-Class in CO2 Race With BMW, Audi

Nov. 9 (Bloomberg) — Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz is rolling out an S-Class sedan with a four-cylinder engine, a first in the model’s 60-year history as it vies with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Volkswagen AG’s Audi for the “green” luxury driver. Simon Empson from Colchester, England, who has owned an S-Class ever since buying his first in the 1970s, hasn’t touched his V8-powered S500 for 18 months. Instead of cruising in the flagship Mercedes model, which starts at 60,400 euros ($84,000), he’s driving a 9,000-euro Rio from Kia Motors Corp. because the Korean compact burns 70 percent less fuel. “We have to start making some significant changes” in our driving habits because of the environment, said Empson, 52, who is managing director of U.K. discount car website Broadspeed.com. “In the new greener world, we will all have to learn how to drive fewer, shorter journeys, much more slowly.” Mercedes is the first of the world’s biggest luxury-car makers to put such a small engine on its top-of-the-line model. To meet emissions standards and win back customers like Empson, the manufacturers are flaunting their environmental credentials. BMW has invested 1.2 billion euros in fuel-saving technology, while Mercedes nearly doubled its investment on “green” development to 1 billion euros this year. Mercedes aims to maintain S-Class performance even with a small diesel engine. The S250 CDI, which will arrive at dealers early next year, uses two-stage turbo-charging to power the 2- ton sedan to a top speed of 240 kilometers (149 miles) per hour.

Green Luxury
The model, which Mercedes says emits less carbon-dioxide than any other car in its class, accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in 8.2 seconds. The top-of-the-line S65 AMG hits the mark in 4.4 seconds, but spews more than twice the emissions, and, at 192,500 euros, costs more than three times as much. “Green luxury is feasible,” said Verena Mueller, a Mercedes spokeswoman in Stuttgart, Germany. “We expect to attract environmentally conscious customers who are seeking the lowest possible CO2 emissions. Besides private customers, that could of course also be fleet buyers.” Engine downsizing is also a reaction to the financial crisis, which sapped demand in the U.S. for high-end cars amid historic job losses. BMW Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer said on Nov. 3 that U.S. luxury car sales will likely remain below pre-crisis levels until 2013 or 2014.

Extreme Versions
Smaller engines are cheaper, so therefore offer a financial incentive to keep customers from trading down to less-expensive model lines. The S250 CDI, which will be targeted mainly to European customers, costs 3,700 euros less than the V6 version, but 27,400 more than entry-level E-Class. “The business models of Mercedes, BMW, and Audi wouldn’t support a massive migration of customers to smaller models,” said Christoph Stuermer, a Frankfurt-based analyst at IHS Automotive. “We’re going to start seeing extreme versions of bigger cars to keep customers from drifting down.” BMW this year swapped a six-cylinder engine for an eight- cylinder in one version of its top-of-the-line 7-Series. Still, the company, which is building a hybrid supercar and an electric auto for city driving, isn’t planning to follow Mercedes by rolling out a four-cylinder version of its flagship line. “I like selling 7-Series cars with six- and eight- cylinders,” Reithofer said last month at the Paris Motor Show. “What we need to offer with these cars in the future is electrification.”

Vision Efficient Dynamics
BMW is developing a production version of the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car for sale in 2013. The four-person sportscar combines a three-cylinder combustion engine with two electric motors and can accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.8 seconds. With CO2 emissions of 99 grams CO2 per kilometer, it’s equivalent to the most efficient Volkswagen Golf. Audi is following a similar approach and plans to couple smaller engines with electric motors. The Ingolstadt, Germany- based carmaker is developing a version of the A8 that will combine a four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor. The hybrid sedan is slated for 2012, spokesman Eric Felber said, adding that smaller engines on their own can risk performance. “Downsizing shouldn’t limit driving characteristics,” said Eric Felber, a spokesman for Audi. “It’s important to offer a certain degree of performance in this segment.” Felber said.

Auto Taxes
Ahead of the arrival of the hybrid flagship, Audi will provide more efficiency by introducing a front-wheel-drive version of the A8 with a six-cylinder diesel engine starting early next year. The vehicle will get about 39 miles per gallon, close to the 41 miles per gallon offered by the Mercedes S250. Mercedes’ four-cylinder S-Class is likely to be popular in countries such as France, the U.K. and the Netherlands, which are raising auto taxes based on carbon-dioxide emissions. “They’re going to love this car,” said Stuermer. “It allows them social prestige and comfort, without punishing them with costs for performance that they can’t even legally use.” Aside from an S-Class, Empson also owns a Ferrari, a Bentley, a Triumph motorcycle and several French and English classic cars. But he’s turning sour on these toys. “I have owned dozens of exotic cars over the years and now feel that the investment status many now possess will collapse,” he said. “It’s the end of an era.”

Paris 2010: Audi Quattro Concept celebrates 30 years of performance

Courtesy of Autoblog;

“Here they are folks, the first live images we’ve managed to snap of the Audi Quattro Concept that’s currently being debuted at the Paris Motor Show. We expect to get much more closely acquainted with the machine over the next couple of days, but until then, take a gander at the machine that Audi crafted to celebrate 30 years of Quattro performance.

Keep in mind that this sucker is packing 408 horsepower from its turbocharged five-cylinder engine and routing all those ponies through a six-speed manual gearbox to all four wheels, making for a power-to-weight ratio on par with that of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI. See the rest of the details here. A fitting tribute, if we do say so ourselves.”

A bit of VW Corrado body, Dodge Challenger taillights, Aston Martin Vantage grille…but it looks damn sexy!

More on the Quattro Concept here;
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-quattro-concept-live-photos/
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/audi-quattro-concept/

Lots of fantastic technical info here;
http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_6258.shtml

500-hp 911 GT3 RS coming??

Via Autoblog;

“Just when you thought that the Porsche 911 GT3 RS couldn’t get any more enticing, word crops up that German sports car manufacturer has a new special edition planned. If the buzz cropping up over at Teamspeed is to be believed, Stuttgart is working up a special edition RS to end all RS models. The car will be limited to just 500 units, each one packing a heady 500 horsepower from a 4.0-liter mill. That represents a 50 horse jump over what’s available in the standard GT3 RS and 65 more ponies than the ‘base’ GT3.

The news comes courtesy of Teamspeed member AlexG, who despite the urging of his fellow forum members, won’t share his source. Even so, the GT3 RS Limited Edition is supposed to make use of the same flat-six engine found in the mighty RSR. Pricing is supposed to fall well below the 911 GT2 RS but above the standard 911 GT3 RS. We’re guessing that the sticker will fall somewhere close to $200,000 if/when it goes on sale in July 2011.”

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid headed for production

Via Autoblog;

“What once seemed to simply be a ridiculously extravagant concept for a plug-in hybrid has now become a ridiculously extravagant reality — Porsche has just announced that it’s putting the 918 Spyder into production. First unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, the car (in concept form, at least) packs a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of 109-horsepower electric motors that should let you get about 78 miles per gallon, or a total of 16 miles of driving straight from the lithium-ion battery back. The cost? That hasn’t been officially announced yet, but estimates peg it around the $650,000 mark. Don’t worry, though — it’ll be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. Head on past the break for the full (but brief) press release.

Green Light for Series Development of the 918 Spyder
Stuttgart. In its session today, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave the green light for series development of the Porsche 918 Spyder. Reflecting the overwhelming response from the public and customers to the Concept Study, the Supervisory Board gave Porsche’s Board of Management the mission to develop a production model based on the car already presented. This concept version of an ultra-high-performance mid-engined sports car with plug-in hybrid technology made its debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and at Auto China in Bejing, hitting the headlines worldwide.

Michael Macht, President and Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG: “Production of the 918 Spyder in a limited series proves that we are taking the right approach with Porsche Intelligent Performance featuring the combination of supreme performance and efficient drivetrain concepts. We will develop the 918 Spyder in Weissach and assemble it in Zuffenhausen. This is also a very important commitment to Germany as a manufacturing base.”

The Concept Study of the 918 Spyder allows CO2 emissions of just 70 g/km, corresponding to fuel consumption of 3.0 litre/100 km (94.1 mpg imp) in the NEDC, on the one hand, and the performance of a super-sports car, on the other. This extremely efficient drivetrain technology then forms a symbiosis in the 918 Spyder with truly outstanding design and high-tech motorsport achievements. Further product details of the 918 Spyder will be disclosed in the months to come.”

More here;
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/28/porsche-918-spyder-plug-in-hybrid-headed-for-production/